Road-grading machine.



J. H; & R. G. OSTEN. ROAD GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22,1912.

Witnesses (ma/w Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

a SHEBT$-SKBET 1.

I IIIIIII IU J. H. & R. G. OSTEN.

ROAD GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SEBET 3.

5 w 1 3 q I JEfiJZfl/ W Witnesses j a inventors,

n Attorneys,

quickly.

' JAMES H. osrnn AND ROBERT G. os'rnn, or PLANO, ILLINOIS.

iKendall, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Road-GradingMachine, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to road grading machines, one of its objectsbeing to pro vide -a machine of this character so constructed as toprevent dirt from piling up in front of the scraping blade andinterfering with the operation of the machine, it having been found thatthis objectionable result ,often occurs in connection with road graderssuch as heretoforeconstructed and particularly where sod is gatheredup-by the scraper. I

A further object is to provide an improved connection between thescraping blade and the wheel supported structure whereby said blade canbe readily shifted angularly with out lost motion and without causingany of -the parts to bind to an undesirable extent,

A further object isto provide improved means for adjusting the bladeangular-1y and to provide additional means for holding the subsequent tothe adjustment of the blade,

A further object is to provide novel means for shifting the beamlaterally relative to the rear supporting wheels.

Another object, is to provide improved means for raising and loweringthe blade Tith the foregoing and other objects in View which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combinationand arrangement of parts and. in the details of constructio 1;hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in'theprecise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, c'anbe madewithin the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spiritof the invention.

In the accompanying drawing the perfer-red form of the invention hasbeen show-n.

In said drawings Figure '1 is'a plan 'VlGW of themachine. Fig. 2 is'aside elevation thereof. Fig.3 is a vertical. longitudinal sectionthrough a portion of the machine.

' Fig. 4c is a perspective view of the draw .bar.

: Fig. 5 is a detail view of the guide bracket used in connection withthe half circle. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectionthrough a portion of the steeringmec'ha-g Specification of LettersPatent.

' ROAD-GRADING MACHINE.

nism. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View partly in section and partly inelevation showing the means for ad ustably connectingone of the gageplates or runners to the scraper blade.

Referring to the figures bycharacters of. reference 1 designates themain beam of the machine, the same being channeled longitudinally andprovided, between its ends, with an arched portion 2, there beingoppositely disposed socket members 3 secured to the bottom face of thebeam 1 at the rear end ofthe arch 2, these socket members he ingdetachablyconnected by-bolts, as shown. A tubular hanger 4; extendsdownwardly froin the front portion of the beam 1 and a vertical shaft 5is mounted for rotationtherein. The hanger 1 is connected to the beam 1by means of an arm 6 extending 'rearwardly therefrom as shown and arecess 7 15 formed in the upper end of the hanger 1. I Secured to theshafts. and extending loosely'into the recess 7 is a forwardly extendingdraft plate 8 and another plate 9 is secured to the upper end of theshaft 5 and above the sides of the beam 1, said upper plate 9 beingspaced from'the bottom of the beam 1 by a spacing sleeve 10 mounted Onthe shaft5. The front ends of the two plates 8 and 9 are connected by abolt and an car 12 extends upwardly from the top plate 9 and is adaptedto be tion of an axle 18 supported at its ends by front wheels 19. Aspacing sleeve 20 is mounted on the shaft 5 between hanger l 7 Patentedrep. 1d, 1914-. Application filed August 22,1912. Serial No. 716,556.

and yoke 14. ,From the foregoing description it will be apparent thatthe front axle 18 is free to swing about the trunnions 16 as an axisand, at the same time, the entire axle can be turned about the-axis ofthe shaft 5, motion-being transmitted to said shaft from the drafttongue 13 and the plates 8 and 9 which are fixedly connected .to theshaft. By providing a front axle which is free to oscillate in themanner described, it is capable of passing more readily over an unevensurface and without danger of cansing the machine to tilt laterally. Furthermore, by mounting the front wheels in the manner described, a veryshort turn canbe made inasmuch as the wheels can pass freely underthe-front portion of the beam '1.

As shown in the drawings the sides of the channeled beam 1 are formedwith openings 21. The socket members 3 receive-between them a ball 22formed at the upper endof a stem 23, this stem being connected to thecenter of the back face of an elongated scraper blade 24. The front faceof this blade is curved. downwardly and forwardly to a straight activeedge. A. half-circle brace 25, preferably formed of an angle strip issecured to the back face of the scraper blade, the ends of saidbracebeing downturned, as at 26 and each .of said ends forming one wall of asocket 27 The other walls of these sockets are formed by an angularbracket 28 suitably secured to the back face of the scraper blade24. Awear strip 29 is secured to the scraper blade 24 andextends along therear face thereof into the socket 27, said strip 29 being curved so asto constitute an abutment forthe purpose hereinafter set forth. Y

A curveddraw bar 30 constitutes a connection between the front portionof the beam 1 and either end portion of the Scraper blade 24. This drawbar, as shown particu- 1 larly in Fig. 4,'has an eye 31 atits rear endwhile its other end is provided with oppositely extending curved stems32, each stem ;extending"' laterally and thence upwardly relative to thebar. If the blade 24 is inclined forwardly with its leftend in advanceofits right end, the draw bar 30 is to be placed at-the left side of thebeam 1 and the right hand stem32 of the bar 30 is insorted into one ofthe openings 21. The

rear end portion of thedraw bar is then in-- serted into: the socket 27adjacent the left end of the blade 24 after which a set screw 33, whichis carried by the eye.'31,is screwed f against the curved wearplate 29so asgto I bind tightly thereagainst.

" movement. It will be'apparent, of course,

With the parts thus fitting snugly together it will be seen that thefront end of the scraper blade 24- will be'securely -braced againstrearward that when the right end of'the blade 24 is in advance of theleft end the'reof, the draw bar 30 can be placed at the right side ofthe beam-1 and the other stem 32 insertedinto the beam while therearcefid of the .draw bar 30 is inserted into the-socket 27 adjacentthe right end of the blade 24.

Both ends of the b1 de 24 are provided, on

theirrear faces, with guide brackets 34.

Each of these brackets 34 has a stem 35 mounted to slide and rotatetherein, the said stem projecting upwardly from a gage plate;

or runner 36,- A yoke 37 straddlesthe upper end of the stem 35 and isslotted,as at- 38,the said slots receiving trunnions 39 ex- .tendingradially from the stem 35. A toothed arm'4O is'formed integral with thethat by loosening cam 42, the toothed arm 40 can be shifted out ofengagement with the teeth 43- and the stem 35 can thus be adjustedlongitudinally within the bracket 34.

After such adjustment the arm 40 can be swung into engagement with theteeth 43 and the cam tightenedand then held by means -of the ring- 44.As the stem is mounted for rotation and as 1t has trunnlons 39projecting into slots 38 in yoke 37, it

will be seen that the stem is capable of rotating freely althoughheldagainst longitudinalmovement. This rotation is necessary in order thatthe gage plate or runner 36 may be held ,parallel with the path ofmovement of the machine.

Arranged'at each side of the beam l are frame members 45, these framemembers being pivotally connected, attheir front ends, to the beaml, asby means of a bolt 46. Thisbolt is preferablylocated adjacent the frontendof the arched portion of the beam 1 and the rear ortions of theframemembers 45 are pre erably .curved downwardly, as shown at 47 andprovided, at their lower wardly projecting extensions 49. A bar 50 ends,with angular sleeves 48 having rearconnects the rear portions of theframemembers 45 so as tojprevent them from spreading apart. These framemembers also support, between them, an elongated U-shaped guide 51 intowhich the rear end of the beam 1 projects, said beambeing adapted toslide .vertically within the uideL' Suitable braces connect the guide tot e frame members-45,

certain of these braces being indicated at 52.

Secured to the bottom face of the beam ,1

and close to the guide 51 is a bracket 53 having a forwardly extendingtongue 54 adapted; to project under the half circle 25. The

upper face-of this tongue is beveled up to a longitudinal ridge 55constituting a bearing for the lower surface of the half cir-.

role or arcuate b'race'25. Thus it will be seen that said ridgeconstitutes a bearing for thev half circle and on which the same is.free to tilt. An opening 56 is formed in the tongue and registers witha corresponding opening 57 in the beam 1 and, the half circle isprovide'd-with a series of'openings 58 any one of which is ada ted toregister with the openings. 56 and 5 so as to'receive, a locking pin59fsucl1 as shown in Fig. 3.

A'bar 60extends transversely of and is secured to the frame members 45and mountother arm,"indicated at 62, is connected, bya

depending link 63,.to the rear portion, of the T beam '1. This sarinthus serves to ieldingly support the rear end of the beam andtofacilitate-the elevation thereof relative to the frame members 45.pivotally connected to and extends upwardly "rom the rear portion of thebeam 1 and slides within a guide 65 supported within the upper portionof the U-shaped guide 51. A shaft 66 is journaled in the guide 65 andhas a gear 67 secured to it and meshingwith the rack bar 64. A wheel 68rotates with shaft 66 and is adapted to be rotated by hand, whereby gear67 is revolved and the rack bar 64 is shifted longitudinally so as toeither raise or lower the rear end of the beam 1. Shaft 66 isnormallyheld against rotation bymeans of a brake lever 68 which is pivotallymounted upon one side of the U-shaped guide 51 and has its forward endconnected, by a spring 69, to an car 70 outstanding from the lowerportion of the U- shaped guide 51.' The rear end of the brake lever 68is connected by alink 71 to a foot lever 72, said lever being fulcrumedon a bracket 73 upstanding from a platfornr74. Said platform is fixedlyconnected to and extends rearwardly from the frame members 45 and has astandard 75 mounted thereon for carrying the seat 76 to be occupied bythe operator. A brake shoe 77 is carried by the brake lever 68 andnormally engages the periphery of wheel 68. The frictional engagement ofthe shoe with this wheel will of course hold shaft 66 and gear 67against ro tation until the brake lever 68 is shifted away from wheel 68by means of the foot lever 72.

Brackets or bearings 78 are arranged on the frame members 45 and a shaft79 is journaled therein and is provided at 'each end with a crank arm80. A worm wheel 81 is secured to this shaft and isen'gaged by a worm 82formed on or-secured'to a rearivardly and upwardly extending-controllingshaft 83, said shaft being journaled in one of the brackets or bearings78. A hand wheel 84' is arranged at therear end of shaft 83 and by meansthereof the said shaft and the worm 82 can be rotated readily and theshaft 79 caused to revolve so as toraise or lower the arm 80.

Pivotally connected to the front ends of the arms 80 are hangers 85 eachof which has a depending finger 86at its lower end. This finger isadapted to be inserted into 'the opening 58 thereunder and ahookedreta-ining dog 87 is pivotally connected to each hanger and isadapted, when the finger 86 is seated in one ofthe openings 58,,t0extend A rack bar. 64 is with the half circle. end portion of the halfcircle engaged by und the half circle 25 and thusprevent it fromwithdrawing from the finger 86. A holding ring 88 is slidably mounted oneach hanger 85 and is lapted to engage dog 87 so as to hold it againstmovement "relative to finger 8G and thus securely attach the hanger 85to the-half circle 25. It is tobe understood that only one of thehangers 85 is placed in engagement with the half circle at one time. Ifthe right end of the scraper blade 24 is back ofthe left end thereof,

the hanger 85 at the right side of the machine is placed in engagementwith the half circle. Should the left end of the scraper blade berearmost, the hanger 85 at the left side of the machine is placed'iuengagement In either event that the hanger will be elevated when thecrank arms 80 are moved upwardly. Thus it will be seen that the rearmostend of the scraper blade 24 can be easily raised so as to tilt the bladelongitudinally? n Slidably mounted in the sleeve 48 is the angularrear'aXle' 89 of the machine, the ends of the axle' being supported byflanged supporting wheels.90. Axle 89 has rack teeth thereon, as shownat 91 and certain of these teeth are constantly engaged by a gear 92secured to an upstanding shaft 93 which is journaled in the extension 49of one of the sleeves 48. A gear 94 is secured to and rotates with theupper portion of shaft 93 and the upper end of said shaft is journaledin a bracket 95 extending from the bottom of the platform 74. A lever 96k is mounted to rotate freely on the shaft 93 and has a lug .or tooth 97adjacent one end and adapted to engage the gear 94. A.

spring 98 is mounted on the shaft 93 and bears upwardly against lever 96so as'to hold said lever normally in engagement with the gear 94. Ahandle 99 is provided at the free end of the lever and a bracket lOO isconnected to the lower surface of the platform 74 and servesto holdlever 96 against movement under normal conditions.

transversely of the machine so as to bring the frame members 45 toanydesired position above the axle 89. By swinging lever 96 downwardly.against the action of the sprin 98, the tooth or lug 97 can be disengagefrom gear 94, and said lever thus swung back to its initial positionwithout producing a corresponding movement of the shaft 93. An arch 101can be mounted on the'frame members 45 close to the arched portion 2 ofthebeam and this arch 101 connected. Thus the blade can be caused. to

grade an inclined surface. F or the purpose of adjusting the bladeangularly in a horizontal plane, the pin 59 is disengaged from the halfcircle and the draw bar is disengaged from the beam 1. -The blade 24 canthen be swung about the ball 22 as a pivot until it has been brought toa desired angle after which pin 59 is reinsertedinto the half circle andthe bar 30 is readjusted a bracket secured to and arranged under thebeam, said bracket having a tongue provided into-engagement with beam 1and with'the socket 27 adjacent the front end of the scraping blade.

The entire blade can be quickly elevated by means, of the rack bar 64;and gear 67, as hereinbefore described,

-As the beam l'is arched directly in front of the scraper blade, it willbe seen that there is no danger of dirt and sod becoming lodged underthe beam and interfering with" the proper operation of the'scraper.

V Vhat is claimed is "side thereof, a scraper bladeextending un- 'derthe beam, said blade being movably con nected to 'the beam, a draw bar,stems extending laterally from one end thereof, one stem beingprovided-for, and adapted to she either end.

2.. A road scraper including a longitudi nally' ohanneled beam having aseries of aperturelsin each side thereof, a scraping blade "extendingunder and movably connected'to the beam, said blade being shiftableangularly in a horizontal plane, a drawbar, op-.'

' 'positely extending stems at one end of the bar" one stem beingprovided for, -'and- I insertible into an opening of eachseries, saidbar being curved. downwardly and rearwardly so as to 'extend overthegblade and noeans upon the .back face oflthe blade and adjacent ,eachend, eitherof said means being'adapt'ed tobe engaged by the draw bar.-

1 3. In a road'scraper'the combination with 1 a longitudinally channeledbeam having "a a scraper lade extending under, and movably, connectedtoth'ebesim, a'dra'w bar having oppositely"extending-stems,at one endone stem being .provide'd for, and insertible I into any, one of the'openings'in each series,

1; A road scraper including-a beam, said, beam having a-series ofapertures along each said bar being extended rearwardly and downwardlyto engage the rear face of. the

scraper blade, and means carried by the bar for engaging said blade.

ate brace upon therear face of the blade and slidably mounted on theridge, and means extending through'the ridge for holding said --arcuate'brace against longitudinal movementupon the ridge. 1

roadfscraper including a beam, a' scraper blade extending thereunderand'ad I justable angularly in a. horizontal plane and also adjustable'angularly in a vertical plane,

with'a longitudinal ridge, an arcuate brace secured to the blade andmounted'to slide and rock upon theridge, and means extending through thetongue, beam and brace for holding said brace against movementlongitudinally.

6. A road scraper including a 'bea1n,' ascraper blade connectedtheretofor universal movement, frame members pivotally connected to the beamand extending rear wardly therefrom, .a wheel supported axle carryingthe rear ends ofsaid members, a shaft mounted for rotation on the framemembers, crank arms extending therefrom,

means, for rotating the shaft, hangers dependlng from the crank arms,an, arcuate brace 'upon'the scraper, and means for detachablysecuringthe hangers to the brace..-

' 7, In a road-scraper the combination with a beam and means forsupporting the front end thereof, of a wheel supported rear axle,frameinembers extending from the axle and along the sides of the beam,said members being pivotally connected 'to the beam adja-' "cent thefront endthereof, a guide interposed between and fixedly connectedt'othe frame members, me a1is carried-bythe frame members for yieldinglysupporting the rear end o-f'the beam in the guide, ascraper bladeconnected tothe beam,- and means for adjustingtlie rear end of the beamvertically withinthe guide to raise and lower the v j! I I I 115 Intestimony that we' claim the foregoing blade.

as our'own, we have hereto affixed our sig II I I I I I :natures-inthepresence of two witnesses. series Qfja ,ertures in. each side'thereof,of I JAMESHQOSTEN.

I I ROBERT Gr. Witnesses? BERT LAMKIN, I

